Two pipeline protestors were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct at a shareholders meeting for pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) at a Dallas Hilton yesterday. The protestors allegedly “became violent towards the attendees” and triggered a sprinkler system that “caused significant damage to the hotel.”
Dallas Police Deputy Chief Tomas Castro stated:
“As the officers were effecting the arrest of these two individuals, a group entered the lobby. Unknown suspects entered a restroom and used what appears to be a lighter to set off sprinkler systems.”
The protestors entered the hotel where the meeting was held and pounded on the walls while carrying various threatening signs, including one that stated “We Want Revenge” and another that used expletive language to describe ETP CEO Kelcy Warren, who–along with his family and friends–have long been the target of violent threats from environmental activists:
After police began to make arrests, one of the protestors being arrested began screaming expletives and yelling for fellow protesters to rush the doors:
“You don’t just [put] f***ing handcuffs on my hands! You are not professional, you are not! I’m out of order? You’re out of order! You’re out of order! You’re all out of order! All of you! All of you are out of order! You’re all out of order! All of you! F*** you! F*** your slime ways! Go to hell with you! To hell with all of you! To hell! ETP kills! ETP kills! Rush it! Water is life! Water is life! Water is life! We are first nation! We are first nation! I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have to.”
As police arrested and escorted the protestors out in handcuffs, they switched the targets of their insults from the pipeline company executives to law enforcement:
“You piece of s***! You’re a bunch of f***ing cowards! B****. Fucking done. Working for the man. You’re gonna die a slow and painful death. No hero’s death for you. Let go of me, I’m not doing nothing. F*** you and your p**** a**. I ain’t doing s***.”
One of the arrested protestors continued their outburst of angry rhetoric on Facebook after being released from detention:
“I’m out of jail, and Kelsey Warren is still a lil bitch. Love y’all. Goodnight.”
The protest was led by Texas environmental group Society of Native Nations and supported by leaders of the Texas Sierra Club. The Society of Native Nations was founded by several protesters of the Trans-Pecos pipeline in West Texas and became the center of controversy in early 2017 when it was revealed that one of the founders was a fugitive registered sex offender wanted in California for a parole violation after serving prison for rape, sex with a minor, selling drugs, and assault with a deadly weapon.
